My Books in Lists: Wishes ~ Taylor Your Life

{Books on my Wishlist}

I will forever have a never-ending, insanely long wish list because I love books so much that I cannot stop reading ABOUT them, let alone reading the actual books. So, I'm constantly stumbling upon new titles (and old) that strike my interest, so I add them to the growing list. I keep track of my wish list(s) using Paperbackswap.com {where I literally wish for the books and whenever a fellow user posts the title I'm wishing, I get a notification so that I can go order it from them!} and Goodreads.com {where I keep track of books I've read, want to read, like and don't like, etc. It's like Foursquare for books}. You can read more about these websites on my post about them over here.

Over the weekend, the sweetest thing happened to me. I got a message from a user on paperbackswap.com with the subject "RAOK :)" and a message stating that she wanted to send me a gift of granting one of my book wishes. I felt skeptical at first, both because nothing like this has ever happened to me on this site and because I had no idea what "RAOK" meant. So I just wrote back and asked what this was all about. Well, "RAOK" stands for "random act of kindness" and she is part of a forum on the site that finds users and grants their book wishes whenever they have the extra cash, just to share a smile! I was so surprised and humbled! I couldn't believe it. A part of me felt awkward, but then I realized that the feeling was based on the unfortunate societal norm of that charity/pity feeling of someone doing something for you for no reason. I decided to send her my address and vowed to pay it forward!

Two days later, I was tickled to receive not one, but TWO of my book wishes in the mail.

I immediately messaged the woman to thank her, and asked if I could tag her on Instagram.

Her response:

"awww Taylor... no I don't use social media really...
Thank you though.... I don't need mentioned.. Im happy knowing you are happy...

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend and a great Saturday night!

:-)"

I cried because I was so touched by this truly random act of genuine kindness, proving the beauty and love that is present in humanity.

I have always been such a fan of paperbackswap, but now I can say with great confidence that the members undoubtably make the website what it is. If you are a reader, please take the time to check it out. And in the meantime... here are all the books that are currently on my mind but not yet on my shelf. Click each title to learn more and/or purchase on Amazon.

#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes